OSU hopes to renovate old castle on island

One of Ohio's most historic landmarks is hidden away on a tiny dot of land in Lake Erie.

One of Ohio’s most historic landmarks is hidden away on a tiny dot of land in Lake Erie.

Fortunately, that dot — Gibraltar Island — is just a $6 water taxi ride from Put-in-Bay on the much larger island of South Bass.

Gibraltar can look a bit mysterious, but since 1925 the island has been the home of Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory, where students and researchers explore the science and ecology of Lake Erie.

The lab offers college-level courses, noncredit workshops and summer programs for students in grades five and up. And anyone who would like to explore Gibraltar can take one of the tours offered on Wednesdays during the summer.

Gibraltar’s most historic building, however, has been mostly off-limits for many years. That could be changing.

Among the many fans of Ohio’s Lake Erie islands was Jay Cooke, the Sandusky-born banker who was called “the financier of the Civil War.”

Cooke, who sold hundreds of millions in war bonds for the Union cause, purchased Gibraltar Island in 1864 and built himself a turreted stone mansion, known then and now as Cooke Castle.

After Cooke’s death, the island (and mansion) was donated to Ohio State.

Until 1985, Cooke Castle was used as a dormitory for male students, said Jeffrey Reutter, director of Stone Laboratory.

“I stayed there when I was a grad student in 1971,” Reutter said. “My dorm room was on the third floor of the castle.”

Modern dormitories were built later, and the castle has been used only for storage in recent years.

Cooke Castle underwent a complete exterior renovation 10 years ago, but there was no money available to renovate the interior, Reutter said.

The outside work ensured that the building wouldn’t deteriorate, and now Stone Laboratory has launched a fundraising effort to complete the project.

The goal, Reutter said, is to use the castle as a 13-suite hotel and conference facility for guests of the lab.

The island occasionally hosts community leaders, lawmakers, scientists, civic clubs, farm groups, reporters and other special guests who are interested in — and important to — the research mission, Reutter said.

Currently, however, overnight guests must stay in student dormitory housing — when available.

“And our facilities are full in summer with students,” Reutter said.

A renovated Cooke Castle would offer more comfortable and unusual lodging options with no adverse effect on any of the island’s courses or education programs, Reutter said.

“And it would really allow us to expand and serve other groups who might be interested in what we’re doing here. We could greatly expand our outreach program.”

The castle could also be opened to tour groups interested in the history of the structure, Reutter said.

The estimated cost of the renovation is about $4 million, Reutter said.

“We’re trying to raise that through donations. We’re trying to get the word out and find people who might have an interest in science, history, the Great Lakes and Lake Erie.”

Even the smallest of donations is welcome and vital, Reutter said.

But he hopes that a patron on the order of Jay Cooke might appear.

“I’ve often told people that on every single popular summer weekend, there is someone in that harbor who has the wherewithal and interest to fund this project. We just haven’t gotten to them to explain what we’re trying to do.”

For information on Stone Laboratory and the Cooke Castle renovation project, call 614-292-8949 or visit www.stonelab.osu.edu.

Steve Stephens is the Dispatch travel writer. He can be reached at 614-461-5201 or by email.